Alaska fishing boats can swap their unused cod quotas with each other

US regulators are letting certain fishing vessels in Alaska trade their unused Pacific cod quotas. This change helps ensure that the total allowed catch of cod is actually harvested each year.

Fishing quotas are often set for specific types of vessels or companies. If one group doesn't catch all its fish, that quota usually goes unused, even if other groups could catch it. This rule means that unused quota can now be reallocated, which keeps more fish in the supply chain and prevents economic losses for the fishing industry. It makes the system more flexible.